so it doesn't react with the H3O+
where its protanated water???
So what
AWK: means is, there isn't a hydrogenation reaction with the alkane, just a messy release of heat and hydrogen when you try to work it up as a second step.
You gotta think about things like that, when you're in the lab, and doing a step that's meant to remove a small excess of reactant ... what happens if you have a large excess of reactant, in a stoppered glass flask..